To cool or not to cool...that is the question!

I'd love to know how many breeders cool before breeding, and how many don't. Do you think it's required? Have you had better results doing one over the other?

I cool for breeding. I drop my room temp a degree every other day until I hit 76 and keep it there. no up and down. the hot spot around 85. this works great for me

I never do. I keep a hot spot around 88-94. They either breed or don't. I believe they'll do there thing when ready whether hot or cool.

I used to and now I don't...Same results both ways.

50/50 split so far on the poll. Anyone else want to chime in? Is there an actual reason that you must cool, other than mimicking their environment?

Cooling is pulling ahead...Anyone else? :)

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...r-ball-pythons

lots of replies in this thread. And, it isn't very old either.

I don't cool. I let the ambient temps drop, but keep the heat tape the same. I heat my snake room to 70-75 in the winter depending on how cold it is outside (my space heater isn't that great). During the summer my snake room runs between 80-85. I bred four girls last year, three of which were virgins, and they all went for me.

I have tried a few things from maintaining a cool end of 76/78 to cool down my hot spot to 80 days and night, to not cooling, to now doing what I do which seems to work for my animals.

They have a cool spot that varies from 76 to 78 their hot spot is about 88 during the day and 78/80 at night (I use a herpstat ND so the night drop is done automatically each day)

Works for me and my animals :gj:

Again it's all about finding what works for your animals.

I don't cool. I mimic their environment EXACTLY: Captivity. Yep, captivity has been their environment from the day they hatched, so I mimic it pretty darn exactly.

I think the cooling thing is very much overrated, and unnecessary. But I've only gotten one year breeding under the belt so far. From what I've seen, though, they go when they're ready, and I can't do anything to their environment to force them otherwise. The only thing I can do is make sure their conditions are good, they're well fed/healthy, and they get plenty of opportunity for twisting their tails.

i dont lower the temp on the heat tape but the ambient temp in the room goes from 80 down to 75-74 degrees.

So many people obsess about little things like this. People tend to forget snakes have been breeding in totally uncontrolled conditions for many thousands of years without perfect temp humidity and cool streaks right before they "get in the mood". I think that if they are ready they will. If not then keep tryin. thats just my 2 cents

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Originally Posted by Bill T

So many people obsess about little things like this. People tend to forget snakes have been breeding in totally uncontrolled conditions for many thousands of years without perfect temp humidity and cool streaks right before they "get in the mood". I think that if they are ready they will. If not then keep tryin. thats just my 2 cents

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This is true. However the cooling cycle helps with their natural process of getting ready to breed. Temp cycles and photo period is what they use in the wild. For example if the winter temps are higher then normal then the amount of reproduction is down. It just is what it is. You can be succesful without cooling but this is an odds game. Do you want the best odds that all your girls will breed or do you want to chance the odds. Me personally, im going to stack the odds in my favor the best i can. Plus my electric bill isnt as high during the winter lol

I havnt done anything to cool but let the ambient room temp go down with the cooling weather. Also I have kept my heat tape on 90 with no night drops and I've had 2 locks in 2 days so far. Fingers crossed.

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Originally Posted by Domepiece

I havnt done anything to cool but let the ambient room temp go down with the cooling weather. Also I have kept my heat tape on 90 with no night drops and I've had 2 locks in 2 days so far. Fingers crossed.

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They can lock all they want. Just remember just cause you see breeding doesnt mean gravid.

Nothing is changed unless its down right cold outside, andi dont turn up space heater in time.

Otherwise room is kept 78-80 all winter and summer best i can. Hot spots 88-90 at all times.

During breeding and i feel follicles, i will add ice and ice cold water to their water bowls to wrap. Gives their bodies a cold drop while still having warmth around their bodies.

Every year every female has laid for me, granted i only breed 7-10 females a year depending on what i want to produce.